A Flying Tethered Man-Made Object

a.k.a– K-I-T-E. 

Since all you Filipino people are probably going to be writing about All Saint’s Day today, then let me write about kites.

I’ve been meaning to fly a kite. I’ve never tried that–flying a kite. But it sure looks fun!

I remember when I was little, All Saint’s Day was equated with kite flying–”uso nanaman ang saranggola”. I’d see young people on top of their dead relative’s tomb happily flying a kite. Kite made of “sando” bags, crepe paper and nylon strings. That’s the kite I know. That’s the image of a kite I grew up with.

But..I was surprised to know that there are such a thing as Sports Kite–flown in aerial ballet (whatever that means!) and Power Kites–designed to generate excess force. These are use when kite surfing, kite landboarding and kite buggying.

Whoa! I didn’t know that kites are..well..uhm..sporty? I thought you just make one and hoist it up and let nature do its thing and make it fly. Was I wrong? Obviously I was.

But hey, all I want is to fly a kite. Experience the thrill of seeing something high being controlled by my own hands. I don’t need a rotorkite or power kite or whatever. I’m so tired of making something that is supposed to be so simple become so complicated.

Give. That. Kite. To. Me!

Today’s sing along song: Fly by Nick Drake

Ethereal and Timeless…A Tribute

Okay. So I’ve put myself in a depressive mood today. My fault but I couldn’t help it. I was drawn to the man, his music and the mystery that surrounded his life.

Nick Drake.

Just met him yesterday, actually. I was tired of the songs in my player I decided it was time for a change. While browsing through Amazon.com’s greatest soundtrack, I came across Nick Drake’s Northern Sky, a soundtrack for the film Serendipity. I instantly fell in-love with the song. My kind of music actually–hollow yet pure, without pretensions. Just the acoustic and his voice.

I wanted to know more about the guy because I haven’t heard of him. I googled him and what I found out left me feeling nostalgic and kind of lonely. Kinda eerie in a way. Enthralled in many ways. 

What a waste of talent. He decided that he had enough of this world when he was only 26. Died in 1974 of overdosed of an antidepressant he was taking for his depression and insomnia. Died poor and a failure. His music didn’t even sold a thousand copies.

Yet, 30 years after his death, every single song of Nick Drake was hailed in Rollingstone as Greatest Hits. He was considered one the most influential English singer-composer of the last 50 years. Without him knowing it, he was considered an influence to many of the singers/songwriters of America. Get to wiki..it’s all there.

It’s such a waste that people acknowledged his music only when he’s dead already. Anyway, I guess that’s how life really is. That’s the irony we’ve become so accustomed to–knowing someone’s value only when they are gone.

Here’s to you, Nick. You’re one of the greatest poet/singer I’ve ever known. If I was only alive during your time, I would have bought every single album you had released People are looking, searching for the pink moon in the northern sky. Ethereal..that’s what you are. And your mentor was right..you’re a timeless genius.

   I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you’re here
Brighten my northern sky.

It’s been a long time that I’m waiting
Been a long time that I’m blown
been a long time that I’ve wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind’s eye.

Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me ’til I’m dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you’re here
Brighten my northern sky.

 

Tell Me Where

I lived in places that was never mine. 

But home, home is anywhere with you.

 There are days when I feel too much. When nothing is close enough. Don’t you know that I’ll travel the miles to be with you?

This is bad.

Today’s sing along song: The DIstance by Evan and Jaron

Fantasy World

She lives in a world where laundry does not exist and washing machine manufacturers, detergent soap, fabric softener makers are permanently out of business.

She buys clothes, wears them and throws them in the trash at the end of the day. All clothes are disposable. Whenever she wants to wear the same clothes, she just requests for it from the store where she bought them and they deliver those clothes at her doorstep. Free of charge.

 Anyway, this world works in that system. Nobody questions it, everybody loves it! And all is happy.

She has more time to shop, read books and see friends. She has soft hands that never smells of detergent soap. Her room has more space, too!

She is happy. She never wants to leave this place. She never smells detergent soaps again. Her hands never get wrinkled after washing. In fact she never washes clothes.

She had said her goodbyes to laundry ages ago. And when she said it, she meant it for good!

Today’s sing along song: A  Whole New World  from Disney’s Aladdin

Rashes and Burns

 This is me at 12noon! 

At 1pm…Look! My arms roasted beyond recognition!

Imagine riding in a pick-up truck at high noon! Ugh! I look as if I sunbathed wearing a swim suit with sleeves! Yaiks! I can’t bear to look at them anymore…!

Today’s sing along song: Was A Sunny Day by Paul Simon